‘THE GIRL’ (1996) REVIEW: HOPELESS HEROINE LOOKS FOR HAPPINESS
Nearly thirty years old now, The Girl is a rustic kind of story that feels a little bit hopeless.
The Girl (1996) TV Miniseries Review
Living in poverty and with no real shelter or stability, Hannah Boyle is dropped on the doorstep of the Thornton family; her mother is ill, and on her deathbed which prompts her to seek out Thornton. Her mother tells the master, Matthew, that he is Hannah’s father, and she needs him to care for her. This leaves Matthew’s wife Anne (Jill Baker) bitter and furious over the addition to her family that is otherwise ideal.
Hannah (Siobhan Flynn) grows up as a constant reminder of how much Mrs. Thornton loathes her husband. She mistreats her and pretends she doesn’t. But then tragedy strikes, leaving Hannah with no protection, and a marriage to a man she doesn’t care for her inevitable reality.
From a group of period dramas produced in the 90s, The Girl is entertaining. It’s not a new story and doesn’t exactly give us likable character. There isn’t much of a familiar cast but a few faces including Mark Benton (from Shakespeare and Hathaway) to Emily Hamilton (from David Copperfield) do stand out. Regardless of the character difficultly or feelings we may have about them, the miniseries does remind a bit of something like Jane Eyre only less moody. The story also manages a tender scene or two even with its problems.
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‘THE GIRL’ (1996) REVIEW: HOPELESS HEROINE LOOKS FOR HAPPINESS. Review of the 1996 #PeriodDrama. Share on XIf you enjoy stories that keeps characters from catching feelings (because they don’t speak up) or you like moody kind of tales, well then, The Girl might be something you enjoy. It’s not really a “pretty” drama because it’s not one that happens in grand parlors or in the upper crust world. Sometimes the story is a bit jarring too because the story seems to have a disconnect between what the characters feel or confess and what we “see” or realize.
Hannah makes for an interesting character and even not liking everyone, I still want the characters to be happy in the end. Broken into three hourlong parts, the production is relatively easy to watch and binge, and it doesn’t require a great deal of time or attention in order to enjoy. So, if you’ve liked some of the lesser known and a little bit “darker” period dramas, you may wish to add The Girl to your lists.
Stream, at publication, this miniseries on Prime Video
Content: the miniseries does have a few content concerns. A man threatens physically his wife after she mistreats a child, and she receives a beating. There is conversation and implication that a man often looks elsewhere for sex. A man makes remarks about having his way with his wife; we see him get into bed with her and kiss her. A marriage woman is intimate with a man but the camera doesn’t catch a lot (we see them post-sex lying in bed together). Someone beats a child with a whip. Someone is beaten to death, but most of this scene occurs off screen; another beating takes place between two men with plenty of blood. The series rates TV14.
I didn’t see this mini-series. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
It’s interesting and has that “ideal” perfect end after all the hard times. :)
Where can I watch it?
At publication, it was on Prime, so I’d check there. :)